A llT rue leadership mustT ake along the followers and not merely talk;I nspire and not merely instruct;T rust and not merely thrust;U nderstand and not merely use;D evelop and not merely drag,E nlighten everyone and not merely the selected few.

David Hawkins says “The true source of joy and happiness is the realization of one’s existence in this very moment” These are just a few quotes from the many great teachers past and present. There are hundreds more. There is a common thread running through every spiritual teaching that has ever come into existence…and ever will do. And it is a simple one. The common thread is living in the present moment.

If we stand in the openings of the present moment, with all the length

and breadth of our faculties unselfishly adjusted to what it reveals,

we are in the best condition to receive what God is always ready to

communicate.--T.C. UPHAM.

To welcome the now is to welcome life itself, for the now is inseparable from life. So don’t make the now into an enemy. Make friends with it. In other words, accept each moment and whatever it contains as if you had chosen it. Immediately, life will begin to work for you, rather than against you. Then watch the miracle of life unfold.- Echart Tolle

what is wrong with Fashion parades- how hypocritical we are

There was a time in Indiawhen the self appointed cultural police vehemently opposed, especially through the media criticizing and condemning right left and centerall genre of beauty contests like fashion shows, cat walks and especially the commercialadvantage that the Miss INDIAcontests had. It was not in the early 70’s or 80’s but in the late 90’s when the Indian films were actually portraying women as vulgar as possible. So , I found this to be really hypocritical. Therefore I wrote in Eves Touch Adam’s view column at that time. Quote the article as it appeared:-

How hypocritical can we get?!

Isthere anything wrong with beauty? Or contests? Or both? Are we sure we object to cynosures? Or are we peeved at the parading of an ectomorphic entourage of long legs and perky breast in see –through dresses, transparent wrap-skirts, and pieces torn asunder sticking on the body like strings of noodles slipped from a fork? Because all these promote the vulgar portrayal of women and increase the pornographic voyeurism of our youth. And we would be right on all these scores to object to a romantic twaddle that passes for cultureand spoils the youngminds. But haven’t these very things been shown day in and day out in Indian films for decades? In fact , our films abound in all these and much more, from sexpressive clothes to suggestive gestures to uncompromising postures to an enormous amount of veiled vulgarity.

We never object to viewing these films with our children. But we make such a hue and cry about beauty contests, which have nothing to do with vulgarity. In a beauty contest, the judgment is not only on appearances but on many other aspects of the personality. The winner is expected, perhaps, have the face of Venus, the brains of Minerva, the grace of Terpsichore, the memory of Macaulay, the figure of Juno, the voice of Cordelia. She is expected to be a Protean artist, a Triton among minnows, a Dulcinea to all, patient as Griselda and so on. Even if it were a mere test of beauty, what is wrong with it? Beauty may be skin deep, but it is at beauty that our eyes peep, our hearts leap, our memories want to keep, what haunts us in our sleep, so what if it is just skin deep? Once a father told his son, “Remember ,beauty is only skin deep”. The son replied, “deep enough for me, I am not a cannibal”. Our self- proclaimed , moralists will be satisfiedif our winners in Miss India contests and Fashion parades declare as a woman once did when askedwhat gaveher such a lovely complexion and whatcosmetic she used, “ I use for my lips truth, for my voice prayer, for the eyes pity, for the hands charity, for the figureuprightness and for the heart , love”.

Some interesting trivia about face many of which you won’t find on the net

1] Evidences of application ofphrenological principles are found in EGYPT,BABYLONIA,INDIA,CHINA AND GREECE .In fact there was an expert calledZOPYRUS who examined the face ofSOCRATES and stated that he had several vices. All those around SOCRATES mocked at ZOPYRUS but SOCRATES said he was right and that he had all the vices mentioned but overcame them through reason.

2] As per JEWISH kabbalists, secrets teachings were not imparted to those who did not have requisite facial features.

3] According to HRISHIKESH DUBEY the Vedic scholar in his very interesting bookMYSTERIES OF VEDIC FACE READING,which I finished reading some months back, Vedic physiognomylays down clear indication that the face brings out the nature, character, personality, intentions and the whole destiny of the person

4] In THE DYNASTY OF RAGHU by kalidasahe writes in Seventh canto. Aja's marriage.--While the suitors retire to the camps where they have left their retainers, Aja conducts Indumati into the decorated and festive city. The windows are filled with the faces of eager and excited women, who admire the beauty of the young prince and the wisdom of the princess's choice. When the marriage ceremony has been happily celebrated, the disappointed suitors say farewell with pleasant faces and jealous hearts, like peaceful pools concealing crocodiles. They lie in ambush on the road which he must take, and when he passes with his young bride, they fall upon him. Aja provides for the safety of Indumati, marshals his attendants, and greatly distinguishes himself in the battle which follows. Finally he uses the magic weapon, face.

5] Shakuntala is sitting right outside the house, sage Durvasa known for his anger comes visiting in the ashram. Lost in her thoughts, Shakuntala fails to acknowledge his presence. He gets infuriated and curses Shakuntala saying that the one whom she is thinking about will forget her face.